Jets' Feely equally adept at football, politics

Published 12:41 am, Tuesday, September 1, 2009

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Jay Feely regularly tweets about his family, has talked sports as a guest radio host and criticized President Obama on a national news television program.

The New York Jets kicker certainly isn't afraid to speak his mind, or have a game riding on the strength of his right leg.

"I've never worried about the implications," Feely said Monday. "I've always felt that if I do my job the best I can and I'm one of the best at what I do and am honest with what I say, then people will respect that."

Feely, entering his second season with the Jets and ninth in the NFL, prides himself on being well-read, well-spoken and well-rounded. He's the rare athlete who can debate sports and politics -- and be equally adept at both.

"If somebody asks me my opinion, you can be honest and still respectful at the same time," he said. "I think that's part of the problem in our country is that we've got this discourse now politically where if you disagree with somebody, you attack them rather than respectfully disagree with them."

During the offseason, the 33-year-old Feely pulled no punches when he was a guest panelist on Fox News' "The Sean Hannity Show."

"I think that the magic act that Obama put on during the election, the curtain is kind of being pulled back," Feely said on the show in June, "and the American people will see what is behind the stage, and they don't really like it."

There was also this zinger: "He's creating a foundation from which he must lead from, and that foundation does not have the same character traits that have made this nation great."

"One thing I love about Jay is that he's brutally honest," long snapper James Dearth said. "Jay says whatever's on his mind and doesn't really care what too many people think. He's a straight shooter."

And some contend that has gotten him in trouble during his football career. Despite setting a Dolphins franchise record with a 91.3 field-goal rate in 2007, Feely was cut, many believe because his outspoken nature clashed with the new Bill Parcells-led regime in Miami. He was also inexplicably cut a day after signing a one-year deal with Kansas City last summer, losing a "kick off" with two less-experienced players.

"I think anytime you go through adversity, your character's tested," Feely said. "The way in which you respond to that will define what kind of man you are."

When Mike Nugent went down with a leg injury in the season opener last year, the Jets jumped at the chance to sign Feely. He became their kicker the rest of the year, and the Jets re-signed him in March after he was 24 for 28 on field-goal attempts. Feely is the only kicker in camp this summer, and has looked impressive.

"We couldn't find a kicker that could tackle like a linebacker, so we decided to stay with the one that can," coach Rex Ryan quipped.

"If you don't think you have somebody that can give him legitimate competition for the job, then why do it?"

Feely enjoys being the lone placekicker in camp, and knows Ryan expects big things because the Jets plan to play a ball-control offense.

"It makes it more exciting for me," Feely said. "In that kind of style of football, you need a kicker who's going to make his field goals, and I like that."

Besides his TV appearances, Feely spent part of the offseason co-hosting a sports talk show with ESPN Radio's Seth Everett, discussing everything from the Jets to the NBA playoffs to baseball. He also wrote a blog in which he called for Michael Vick to get another chance at playing in the NFL.

"What you see on TV and hear from him in the media and what you read on Twitter, that's just him," punter Reggie Hodges said. "That's really who he is. That's one of the things I really like about him. He's so consistent and he's always the same Jay Feely."

"It's something that if I didn't have kids, yes, I'd do it in a heartbeat," said Feely, who has four children with his wife, Rebecca. "My first priority is my children. I want to be a great father. I don't want to be an OK father. The way I approach football is the same way I approach parenting. I don't ever want to have any regrets."